#1. What is Business Gay Performance? (1)
It was completely fucked.
“I’m really sorry, Seowoo.”
The apology and explanation that began like that—no, the excuses—continued endlessly.
“You know, business is something that just doesn’t go as you want. It’s not like studying for the college entrance exam, practicing dance, or practicing singing where you get results right away just because you put in effort.”
The way to deal with a speech that had begun was surprisingly simple. In the brief spaces between sentences, between periods and new syllables, you just had to continue with soulless responses. “You know, business is something that,” yes yes, “just doesn’t go as you want,” yes yes.
I sat there with the same bright smile on my face, just repeating my interjections.
“We tried every possible way but it just didn’t work out. You know, right? I even sold my car and house to get you guys to debut, huh?”
“Yes yes. Of course.”
The car was money that got completely lost when he got caught by a scam dealer after saying he’d buy a foreign car, and the house was just sold because he wanted to move anyway. I swallowed those words and just smiled meekly.
Fortunately, even without me giving any particular response, the excited chattering voice continued. CEO Baek of UJ Entertainment was someone who, if left alone, would play the drum, the janggu, the gongs and small gongs, and even blow the danso flute.
“In short, to sum it up, that’s it.”
“Gu…”
“Gu?”
I covered my mouth with a “hap” and shook my head. I had almost let the words “going on and on” slip out.
To sum it up, that was it. UJ Entertainment was ruined. Since the agency was ruined, it meant that I, who had been preparing to debut there, was also ruined.
Since the company declared bankruptcy, the group also dissolved into thin air. The life of Yoon Seowoo, who had been the main vocal of the 7-member boy group, also went *poof* in mid-air.
“It’s a company that split off from a major agency.” “We’ll definitely get you to debut.” “Let’s create the future together…”
‘Yeah, I was an idiot for believing it.’
It seemed like the gene for trusting people and getting screwed over was inherited from my father’s side. There’s no point in wrestling with things that won’t change no matter how much you lament.
“Still, Seowoo is kind, pretty, and has a lot of talent. Yes, and most importantly, you sing well. So I think you’ll do well anywhere.”
At this point, I needed a different response than just “yes yes.” I put on the most sincere face I could manage and answered in a soft voice.
“Thank you, CEO-nim. It’s all thanks to you looking favorably upon me.”
CEO Baek, who took my social pleasantries as sincere, looked at me with moist eyes.
“So that’s why. I have this feeling that I absolutely must take responsibility for our Seowoo. Absolutely.”
“I’m grateful just for the thought.”
What responsibility? If he were capable of that, UJ Entertainment wouldn’t have gotten into this mess in the first place.
I can take responsibility for my own life. I’ve done so up until now and will continue to do so.
So now I wanted to stop this empty conversation, sign the contract termination agreement, and become free.
But CEO Baek didn’t seem ready to let me go yet. With a *thud* sound, he grabbed my hand with his pot-lid-like hand and said:
“I’ve talked it over well through Manager Baek.”
What talk?
“As you know, it’s not because he’s my younger brother, but our Manager Baek is really blessed with good connections. Plus, the timing is so perfect.”
Good connections? Timing?
“I think heaven is giving us a revelation that our Yoon Seowoo shouldn’t be wasted like this.”
…Revelation?
I stopped fidgeting with my hand and looked at CEO Baek.
These weren’t lines from his usual repertoire. What was this?
“Let’s sign first, Seowoo.”
“Yes…”
Anyway, contract termination was still termination, so I signed obediently.
As I neatly wrote my three-character name in the blank space, I prayed quietly. Please don’t let our troublemaker CEO Baek make any strange decisions.
But God wasn’t on my side.
“Okay. Now let’s go. Manager Baek just arrived downstairs.”
There was no time to refuse. I was dragged along as if CEO Baek had lifted me up. Every time he excitedly patted my back by himself, it felt like red handprint marks would appear on my lower back.
“C-CEO-nim. Where am I going?”
“Where? To your new nest. I’ve decided to transplant you to a very sunny place. You’ll definitely love it.”
Me? Where? Why? Right now?
As soon as I was shoved into the car, the sedan took off. The hastily acquired used sedan boasted a rattling, junk-like ride quality as it raced down the road.
Unable to do anything about my anxious feelings, I gripped the assist handle and just called out to the two people in the front seats.
“Manager-nim? CEO-nim? …Manager-nim? CEO-nim?”
Fortunately, before I could say “Is this kidnapping?”, Manager Baek spoke up.
“This worked out well, Seowoo. It’s exactly like the saying that even if the sky falls, there’s a hole to rise through.”
So what hole is it? Please let me know too…
“The general CEO heard your three-character name and immediately went ‘Ah, that kid!’ He said he’d been secretly keeping an eye on you for a while. When you auditioned, your voice was so good that it stayed in his memory for a long time.”
Audition.
I grasped the entire situation with that one word. It felt like all the blood drained from my body and my fingertips turned ice cold.
I had auditioned exactly twice in my life. The second time was UJ Entertainment’s open recruitment audition, where I caught CEO Baek’s eye and was selected as the debut team’s center.
The other open audition I had taken two weeks before that was…
“You must have heard that Midnight Entertainment is proceeding with a new boy group project.”
It was Midnight Entertainment’s Friday open audition that he was talking about now.
“It’s called ‘Arcus’—they’re preparing a next-generation group as a 5-member group. Is this the first time you’re hearing this name?”
…I knew it. The problem was that I already knew.
“The main vocal member there is going to withdraw, so I recommended our Seowoo.”
I let go of the assist handle I’d been clutching like a lifeline and covered my face.
Even though I knew intellectually that these were jaw-droppingly good conditions, I couldn’t help feeling the sinking disappointment in my chest.
I struggled to swallow the three words I could never say out loud.
‘I’m fucked.’
* * *
5-member dance idol boy group, Arcus.
The ‘Arcus Project’ that Midnight Entertainment was pouring their heart and soul into, even establishing a dedicated label for it, was sensational in both good and bad ways.
It was famous for gathering only talents who could debut solo without any problem, and also for the fact that each member’s individual fame came from completely different points. The fact that trainees who hadn’t even debuted yet had individual fan clubs, and now even a group fan club had been added, said it all.
And controversies spread as quickly as they were famous.
[‘Arcus’, the next-generation group following in ‘Days’ footsteps, embracing controversial member?]
[(Full Statement) Midnight Entertainment’s Twelve Label finally speaks out]
[“Sorry to fans for not showing mature behavior,” why did the criticism continue even after Maki’s apology?]
[Arcus Maki, passionate pros and cons clash ahead of debut… ‘Funeral wreaths’ vs ‘Congratulatory wreaths’ in front of company building]
The whole country had been hotly stirred up by main vocal Maki’s private life controversy just ten days ago. Since the controversial part happened to be about dating and school life, there was endless talk about whether they should debut or not.
Eventually, it was a foregone conclusion that Maki, who had been dropping out of pre-debut schedules one by one, would go through the process of withdrawing from the debut team…
‘You know what they say. The type that drives both fans and antis crazy. That’s Maki. It’s going to be incredibly noisy inside and outside the company for a while. It’s going to be absolute chaos.’
Just as I had heard someone say once, the area around the company building was like a war zone. The wreaths lined up along the main street presented a somewhat overwhelming and shocking scene.
One side had pure white chrysanthemums. The other side had colorful flowers.
‘I’m actually seeing what I’d only heard about…’
I followed behind CEO Baek with quick steps, my hat pulled down low. I also secretly glanced at the messages on the wreaths written in formal script.
[If you want to date, then date] [If you don’t want to be an idol, then don’t]
[School violence dating rumors personality controversy] [Three strikes and you’re out]
[Maki, leaving now is] [the cheapest way to handle this]
[Support 4-member Arcus system] [Let’s debut cleanly, kids]
“Hurry up, Seowoo.”
“…Yes, CEO-nim.”
[5-1=0] [Arcus is five as one]
[If you take out visual vocal Maki] [Who’s going to sing?]
[Stop the trainee witch hunt] [Stop the show-off sacrifices using members as shields]
[Midnight doesn’t protect artists] [Are the kids just money-making tools?]
[Only embracing when popularity is needed] [Shitty management as always, right?]
[Haven’t even experienced real small-scale shit.]
Even the major conglomerate agency Midnight gets called things like that. Real small-scale is places like UJ Entertainment where the entire debut team gets scrapped.
Grumbling to myself, I followed CEO Baek who was urging me again and slipped quietly into the building.
It felt like being sucked into the eye of a typhoon.
Notes:Â
Manager Baek is CEO Baek’s younger brother
CEO Baek is the CEO of UJ Entertainment
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
